Box Score
PEORIA, Ill. – And error and a squeeze bunt in the eighth inning is all that it took for Bradley to win the series as the University of Evansville softball team fell in a 2-1 heartbreaker against the Braves today. With the loss, the Aces (9-22) drop to 2-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference while the Braves improve to 3-6.

Sophomore Katie Sears led UE at the plate, going 2-for-4 on the day as she collected her third double of the season. Sophomore Taylor Perry got the start for UE, giving up one run on six hits while striking out four Bradley batters. Junior reliever Sarah Patterson (6-10) was tagged with the tough-luck loss, allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out three batters in the final 2.1 innings of play.

The Aces will next take the field on Friday night, traveling to Normal, Ill., for a three-game series against Illinois State.  Due to Easter Sunday, the series will consist of a single game Friday at 5:00 p.m. before the standard doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

Game Recap:
The third inning was the only inning during regulation that saw scoring action from either bench. Evansville struck first in the top of the frame, as sophomore Niki Rahming led off with a single to left field. Junior Alicia Betancur replaced Rahming at first as Rahming was thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice. Sears then cranked a double to left center to give UE runners on the corners for junior Tamara Robey. Robey grounded out to third, but the Betancur managed to score on the play, giving UE the 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the inning.

But the Braves wasted no time answering the Aces’ rally, as Alex Chandler led off the inning with a solo homerun to quickly even up the game at 1-all.

Both sides remained scoreless through the rest of regulation as the game was pushed into extra innings. With the Aces unable to manufacture a run in the top of the eighth, Bradley capitalized on a UE fielding error to put leadoff batter Alyson Clemente on base. Mariah Cole, who was entered as a pinch runner for Clemente, then stole second and third before an intentional walk put runners on the corners for Bradley. Chandler then laid down a squeeze bunt to safely score Cole as the game ended in a 2-1 Bradley win.